ASHRAE 188

ANSI / ASHRAE Standard 188-2015 Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems is a risk management program established to help prevent the growth and transmission of Legionella in building water systems, both potable and utility. The new requirement puts the responsibility of controlling risk on building owners and facility managers. Here is a basic overview:

Purpose of ASHRAE 188 To provide guidance practices to prevent Legionellosis (Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever) associated with building water systems.

Who it affects
Anyone who owns, designs, builds, installs (including commissioning), manages, operates, maintains and services centralized industrial or commercial building water systems.

Who is responsible
Building owners, operators, and managers are now responsible for safeguarding potable and utility water systems in both existing and new buildings.

What buildings and water systems are included

Human-occupied buildings

Potable water systems

Cooling towers and evaporative condensers

Whirlpool spas, decorative fountains and other water features

Aerosol generating air coolers, humidifiers and washers

How to comply

Survey building water systems to assess risk

Develop a water management program

Document the program

Monitor

Confirm that the program is implemented and Legionella is controlled

Some components of ASHRAE's water management program

Assemble a program team

Identify uses of potable and utility water

Create process flow diagrams of water systems

Identify hazardous conditions

Establish monitoring procedures and corrective actions

Compliance Assistance
ASHRAE 188 gives you information on what to do to comply but doesn't include specific instructions on how to control Legionella. That's left up to you. Special Pathogens Laboratory can help through our ZEROutbreak Protection Program.